The Pilates method is not new, it has been around for over 80 years now. Joseph Pilates was born in 1880 in Germany, he grew up plagued with rickets, asthma and rheumatic fever and through his determination to overcome his health problems he studied and developed an exercise programme that assisted in restoring him to optimal health.
Joseph moved to England when he was 32 and used his skills as a professional boxer to teach self defence to members of the police force. When the First World War Broke out he was interned by the British authorities in a camp, and during that time he continued developing his interest in health and physical fitness. While he was at the camp he trained other interns, many of whom needed serious rehabilitation.
Joseph observed that where there was a weak or misaligned area of in the body person tended to over compensate or over develop another area. Therefore it was critical not only to correct the misalignment but also to re-educate the body so that the injuries did not repeat themselves. He also believed that true well-being could only be achieved through physical fitness and a positive mental attitude!
In the 1920s Joseph moved to the USA, and with his future wife Clara they established a studio in New York City which they shared with New York City Ballet. It was here that he taught the then named 'Contrology'.
Contrology was particularly popular with dancers, gymnasts and athletes who realised the benefits of his programme of mental and physical conditioning which gave them strength, flexibility and the all important link between mind and body.
Contrology became Pilates after Joseph's death in 1967 and was introduced to the UK by Alan Herdman in the early 1970's.
Today Pilates has become very popular with the general public of all ages and levels of fitness.